COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Colorado State University Pueblo continued its winning ways here Tuesday afternoon as the ThunderWolves scored a season high 26 runs and recorded 23 hits in posting a 26-3 seven inning run-ruled non-conference victory over the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs at Mountain Lion Park.
 
The win was the sixth straight for the Pack, who is ranked 10th in this week's NCBWA South Central Regional poll, and improved their record to 10-13 overall, while UCCS falls to 9-16 overall on the season. 

In six games this season against UCCS, the Pack has scored 76 hits, recorded 97 hits, including 36 extra base hits and hit eight home runs. 
 
The 26 runs are the most scored by the Pack in a game since scoring 27 runs last season in a 27-6 win at Adams State on March 27, 2022. Additionally, the 23 hits are the most in a game since recording 27 hits in that same game against Adams State last season. 

In Tuesday's game, the top four hitters in the Pack line-up went a combined 13-for-15 at the plate with 13 runs scored, 10 RBI and six extra base hits. The big hitter of the day was junior designated hitter Christian Casteneda (El Paso, Texas/Otero JC) as he was 4-for-4 at the plate with three runs scored, 4 RBI, two doubles and a home run to extend his hit streak to 14 consecutive games. In addition to Casteneda, senior first baseman Reggie Williams (Castle Rock, Colo./Douglas County) was 3-for-4 at the plate with three runs scored, an RBI and had two doubles to extend his hit streak to 19 straight games, while senior centerfielder Noah Hennings (Draper, Utah/Southern Idaho) was 3-for-4 at the plate with three runs scored, an RBI and junior catcher Brady Prewitt (Raytown, Mo./Iowa Western CC) was 3-for-3 with four runs scored, 4 RBI and had a triple. 

Redshirt junior third baseman Cole Knightley (Solvang, Calif./Santa Ynez) also was strong at the plate on Tuesday as he was 3-for-4 with three runs, scored, 2 RBI and hit two doubles. 

For the game, 10 of CSU Pueblo's 23 hits went for extra bases as they hit seven doubles, a triple and two home runs. 

The Pack offense used 10 hits and an error by the Mountain Lions to plate 11 runs in the top of the first inning. In the inning, the Pack sent 15 hitters to the plate and recorded seven singles, two doubles and a home run, which was a 2-run shot by Casteneda. In addition, three Pack players recorded two hits in the inning as Williams had a double and a single,, while Hennings had two singles and two stolen bases and Casteneda had two hits as along with the homer, he also had an RBI single. Knightley had a 2-run double and Prewitt had a 2-run single in the inning.
 
UCCS would get one of those runs back in the bottom of the first inning as Hayden Iverson drilled the first pitch he saw from freshman hurler Luke Ruby (Fort Collins, Colo./Resurrection Christian) over the fence in left for a home run for UCCS' first run of the game.
 
The Pack added three runs in the top of the third on an RBI triple by Prewitt and an RBI single by redshirt senior shortstop Trey Vasquez (Greeley, Colo./Dodge City CC) to extend its lead to 14-1.
 
CSU Pueblo's lead grew to 16-1 in the top of the fourth thanks to a 2-run homer over the fence in left by sophomore rightfielder Elijah Borjas (Denver, Colo./Lakewood). The homer by Borjas was his second of the season.
 
The Pack added six runs to its total in the top of the fifth to push out to a 23-1 lead. In the inning, Pueblo had three hits, including a 2-run pinch hit double off the bat of senior Zac Hanenberg (Canon City, Colo./Canon City) and also drew two walks and were hit by two pitches.
 
In the sixth, the Pack scored three more runs thanks to three walks, a ground out and a 2-run single off the bat of junior designated hitter Edmund King (Imperial Beach, Calif./Southwestern).
 
UCCS would plate two runs in the bottom of the sixth off of freshman hurler Tyler Wilcox (Aurora, Colo./Cherokee Trail), who was making his collegiate debut. The two runs cut CSU Pueblo's lead to 26-3.

Ruby (1-0) picked up the win as he tossed the first two innings and allowed three hits and one run, while striking out one, while redshirt freshman Caden English (Broomfield, Colo./Broomfield) pitched the next two innings as he allowed just three hits and no runs. 

UCCS finished with nine hits as Iverson and Caleb Stubbings each had two hits in the loss. 

The Mountain Lions threw eight pitchers in the game as Evan Reynolds (1-3) started the game and lasted just two-thirds of an inning as he allowed eight hits and 10 runs (four earned runs) and walked one. 

The teams combined to leave 13 runners on base as the Pack left seven on base and UCCS left six stranded. 

Both teams committed an error, but UCCS' pitchers walked eight and hit four Pack batters. 

The Pack will return to RMAC play this weekend by hosting Colorado School of Mines for a four-game series with the Orediggers at Rawlings Field. The teams will play a single game on Friday, March 24 at 2 p.m., before playing a doubleheader on Saturday, March 25 at 12 p.m. and then concludes the series with a single game on Sunday, March 26 at 12 p.m.